How do you view God's dealings with you? Do you reason that God is unfair because He deals with one person differently than with you? Is there iniquity with God? The word iniquity literally means "un-equal." Iniquity has to do with a person's character, why they do the things they do. In Luke 13:11-17 we read of a woman who was bowed over for 18 years. She couldn't straighten herself up. One Sabbath Day while in the synagogue teaching, Jesus saw her and called her to Himself. He loosed her from her infirmity and she was immediately healed and glorified God, as you can imagine. But there was a ruler there who was angry because he thought Jesus had broken the law, doing a "work" on the Sabbath. His perspective was keeping the Sabbath consecrated by doing nothing, except reading a few verses of Scriptures and staying home, glorified God. But Jesus had a different perspective. He said, "Thou hypocrite, doth not each one of you on the Sabbath loose his ox or his ass from the stall, and lead him away to watering? And ought not this woman, being a daughter of Abraham, whom satan hath bound, lo, these eighteen years, be loosed from this bond on the Sabbath Day?" Jesus recognized a "daughter of Abraham," a daughter of faith. She was more than just a church-goer: she had the same type of faith as Abraham did. The only other person Jesus spoke like that of was Zacchaeus, a son of Abraham, in Luke 19:9. While others complain and find fault, make sure you maintain your faith in Christ, for He brings life to all who put their faith in Him! May God bless you.

I Timothy 1: 5-11 speaks of the use of the Law. Many Christians are obsessed with the Law. They try to avoid it at all costs and criticize and complain about every law there is. It reminds me of my "rambling" days as a sinner. It didn't bother me that I was breaking the law with my friends. The thing that troubled me most was that the things I did broke my parents' hearts. Paul said, "But we know that the Law is good, if a man use it lawfully." It wasn't the Law that was the problem: it was me!! People who call various churches full of law or too legal miss the fact that the laws are there for a reason. If you live in God's grace you have no thought and no problem with the Law. You live above it because the Law was not made for a righteous person: it was made for "the lawless and disobedient, for the ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane..." But the end of the commandment is still charity out of a pure heart. Rise above the Law today and have charity among yourselves! May God bless you today.

Song of Solomon 2:2 says, "As the lily among the thorns, so is my love among the daughters." This passage speaks of the relationship the Lord has with His bride, the church. There are many daughters, or churches, but there is only one bride. Sometimes the dynamic in a house among siblings isn't too good! Things are said and done that make your hair stand on end! Many times we read in the Bible of thorns being likened to words: they prick your heart and hurt. They don't exactly kill you, but it hurts for a long time. They're sharp and sting. Somehow God's love springs up even when your heart is hurting and words have grieved your mind. God puts lilies in those places for His bride. She looks for Him and listens for those "lily Scriptures." She knows there is a special connection between Him and her that no one else has. It's a beautiful thing to learn to listen for His still small voice, even when thorns are all about you on your pathway. He's there: all you have to do is look for Him and listen for His voice. May God bless you.

The gift of God's grace is strength to our inner man! He helps us overcome the many things that come our way. God offers us an adventure in service to Him because what we do for Him springs from the riches of His grace and not our own abilities. As a born again believer, there is nothing in this world that can stop you from accomplishing everything God has planned for you. The devil cannot stop you if you don't get weary in well-doing! The world can't stop you unless you quit going forward. Even when you feel like sitting down, if you will take some time in His presence today He will strengthen you with might by His Spirit in your inner man! Jesus is waiting for you today to take time for Him. Remember, He took time for you! May God bless you.

Isaiah 43:19 "Behold, I will do a new thing; now it shall spring forth; shall ye not know it? I will even make a way in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert." God is a God of variety. He is not bound by the way He did things in days gone by. He sometimes takes people, sends them forth for a time so He can work with them, and then when they return they are ready to serve the Lord! They are ready to be what He intended them to be in the first place. I can't put my faith in what was: my faith must be in Him who makes all things new! We view success by the things we see. Abraham and his wife Sarah wanted God to fulfill His promises so much they decided to "help" God. They came up with a logical plan, but it produced an "unforeseen consequence." There have been problems in the Middle East to this very day because of it! But if He promised you something He will fulfill it in His time in His way. He will make a way in every wilderness and He will create a river in each desert place. Don't worry: the Lord has not forgotten you! He will work, so be of good cheer! May God bless you.